Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber
About Essence of Foul Play
Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - California
Publisher : Kensington Cozies
(March 25, 2025)
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496751507
ISBN-13 : 978-1496751508
Digital ASIN : B0DB3SGV1Q
Emma Brennan may have her head in a cloud of eucalyptus, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground in breathtaking Carmel, California, as she prepares to open her new spa business, Aroma Wellness. But all the reiki, shiatsu, and massage in the world can’t help her relax when she’s accused of murder . . . Everything is going smoothly as Emma prepares for the grand opening of the spa. The therapy rooms are painted. The sales shop and café are stocked with meditative and delicious goodies, from essential oils to avocado masks and prickly pear massages. The fountain in the Courtyard of Peace is burbling with good vibrations. In fact, there isn’t a whiff of trouble until that morning when Emma is shocked to learn that a rival spa owner has been bludgeoned . . . with an item from the goodwill basket Emma gave her. Worse, a witness is pointing the finger at Emma . . . With the police treating Emma like she’s the only suspect, and the town’s anti New Age anything posse badmouthing her every step of the way, she’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Incensed by the accusations but empowered by her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma reviews the potpourri of possible suspects, determined to uncover the essence of foul play—before she’s cold-pressed for murder . . .
About Daryl Wood Gerber
Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well-received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams suspense novels. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com
INTERVIEW
- When did you first realize you
wanted to be a writer?
I thought, as a girl, I could write mysteries after I fell in love
with the Nancy Drew series, but that was not to be. A teacher (gack!)
discouraged me. I hung up my pen until I became an actress and decided I needed
to write a screenplay that I could star or co-star in. Writing screenplays
taught me how to write long-form pieces. When my husband asked if we could move
across country for his career, and I said yes, selling screenplays became a
pipedream (way before the days of Zoom). So I took lots of classes to learn how
to write a novel. I’ve been at it for years now. I am a work in progress.
- How long does it take you to
write a book?
Depending on the book, I give myself a timeline of 6-9
months. The first month is the planning
stage. The next four are writing the first draft. After that, I usually let the
book “marinate” for a month, and then I revisit it fir final edits. 6 months is my aim. I do take longer for projects that have no
deadlines, like my suspense and/or romance novels.
- What is your work schedule like
when you're writing?
I try to sit at my desk by 9 a.m. and I write until around
12:30. I take a break for lunch, go back
and re-read what I wrote in the morning, do a little PR, take a short break to
walk Sparky, and then write until dinner time. It’s not always this “smooth,”
mind you. I have days where absolutely
zilch gets done except re-reading yesterday’s work, but that’s still writing. I
am often working things out in my head.
- What would you say is your
interesting writing quirk?
I like to plot. I create an
outline. I tweak it over and over again. But I really like having it as a
reference. Is that a quirk? Well, I know a lot of authors who don’t use an
outline. They write by the seat of their pants. I tried that. It’s not a good
fit for me. I also do a major “word
search” on my final edit. Some words,
repeated too often, drive me crazy.
5.
How do books get
published?
Magic! Okay, kidding. Publishers reach out to agents, and agents to
publishers. If a publisher reaches out, usually she is looking for a “hook”
that agents are not pitching, but she wants that hook (theme) for her
portfollio. That’s how I won the Cheese
Shop Mystery series deal, which I wrote as Avery Aames. Tyipcally, agents pitch ideas or complete
manuscripts to publishers, and the publisher decides if she “needs” that book
in herassortment of novels. Once an author has a deal, they sign a contract and
receive a due date. They submit a completed manuscript by the due date. (Anywhere
from 6 months to a year.) The book is then read by the editor. She might
request changes. The author rewrites according to the requests. She sends it back to the editor. In the
meantime, the book has been sent to the art department and publicity
department. It might take anywhere from a year to 18 months to finalize all the
details of publishing a book. Once the author turns in a book, it’s a good idea
to start in on the next book in the series or another stand-alone.
6.
Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
I like to study people and I read the newspaper. I browse the
internet and often, I just come up with scenarios like what if?What if
that man being rude to the cashier winds up dead? What if the woman denigrating
a neighbor is a killer? What if the best friend of the protagonist is suspected
of murder? When my mind starts churning,
I come up with suspects and motives.
- When did you write your first book
and how old were you?
In my thirties I completed my first book. It is still in a
drawer. I completed my second book in my
forties. It is a suspense and has subsequently been rewritten and
published. Desolate Shores.
- What do you like to do when you're
not writing?
I walk my goldendoodle Sparky. I garden and fairy garden. I golf, exercise,
a read and/or watch movies. I’m very
active and like to live life to the fullest.
- What does your family think of
your writing?
Some have read my books, but there are those who don’t read genre
literature (mysteries/suspense), so I don’t ask them to read them. It doesn’t
bother me if they do or don’t. Those who have, have enjoyed them. They’re proud
of my work.
- What was one of the most
surprising things you learned in creating your books?
How creative I can be!
Honestly, I knew I had a fertile mind, but I didn’t know I could
continue to come up with new characters and scenarios and that I could write so
many stories for readers to enjoy. I feel blessed.
- How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written 35 books. 28
mysteries, 6 suspense, and 1 romance, and I have two more that are with the
publisher for editing or future publication, and two more that are not with a
publisher that I might self-publish. I
don’t have a favorite. Truly. I suppose it’s like having lots of children. I
love all my protagonists or I wouldn’t have written about them. Each of their
stories affects them deeply, and thereby, me as the author. I think Jenna in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries
is most like “me.” However, I love the ability of Courtney in the Fairy Garden
Mysteries to see and interact with a fairy. I enjoyed learning French cooking
for the French Bistro Mysteries. I adored learning about cheese for the Cheese
Shop Mysteries. I’ve now tasted over 1,000 cheeses! And I thrill for my
suspense protagonists as they face do-or-die scenarios. Allie, in the Literary Dining Mysteries, is a
gas. She’s sassy. And Emma, in the Aroma Wellness mysteries, is teaching me a lot
about mindful meditation.
- Do you have any suggestions to
help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Persevere. Believe you can.
Stay organized. If you write a
page a day, in a year you will have a book.
Read, read, read—other authors, in the same genre and out of your genre.
Study what works for successful books. If necessary, dissect a book you love from
beginning to end to see what it is that made you “love” it. Get in a critique
group of “like genre” authors. A mystery author is a good critic for an
aspiring mystery novelist. A romance
author is a good critic for an aspiring romance writer. A mystery author is not necessarily a good
critic for a romance. Got it?
- Do you hear from your readers
much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from them. Most are pleased with the stories they’ve
read. Some are sad that a couple of my series have ended, which is a publishing
industry issue I can’t control. Some
have given me solid critiques. A few have found niggling mistakes I quickly correct. One or two….well, one or twocomments I’ve
discounted. You can’t please everyone.
- Do you like to create books for
adults?
Yes. I wrote one children’s book (middle grade) but I have not
tried to publish it. I set it aside. I prefer writing for adults as I like the
license an adult (amateur sleuth) has to investigate.
- What do you think makes a good
story?
A protagonist who cares and tension, tension, tension.
- As a child, what did you want
to do when you grew up?
Dance.
- What would you like my readers
to know?
All authors hope readers will help spread the word. Tell a friend.
Alert a librarian. Talk to a bookstore owner about your favorite author’s
books. The only way in this crazy social
media-driven world to advance is to have others help share the news.
And pre-order. I have a new book coming out in October, the second
in the Literary Dining Mysteries, MURDER BY THE MILLIONS. It’s now available for pre-order. Pre-orders
let the publisher know how anticipated a book might be. This one isincludes a literary dining party
focused on The Great Gatsby.
Author Links
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Thank you so much for hosting me on this blog tour. Loved the questions. I hope they help a few writers along the way. Best, Daryl
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